Lakers rally past Mariners
Kalispell Lakers shortshop Michael O’Connell jumps to make the catch but not efore a Mission Valley Mariners runner makes it to second base during Tuesday evening’s nonconference American Legion baseball game at Griffin Field in Kalispell.
Kalispell Lakers Louis Freudenburg pitches during the second inning against the Mission Valley Mariners on Tuesday.
Dominic Eickert of the Kalispell Lakers at bat against the Mission Valley Mariners on Tuesday evening in Kalispell.
Michael O'Connell doubled four times in a 5-for-5 performance at the plate and drove in four runs to help rally the Kalispell Lakers to a 13-8 American Legion nonconference baseball victory Tuesday evening over the Mission Valley Mariners at Griffin Field.
Mission Valley jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Kalispell responded with five runs in the bottom half of the second inning.
The Lakers finally took control with a four-run sixth inning.
"We need to get rid of the slow start," Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said.
"Our seniors did a good job of taking charge of things in the second inning. After about the third inning, we settled down and did a pretty good job."
Dominic Eickert also swung a hot bat for the Lakers, going 3-for-4.
Alex Stanley and Joe Pistorese added doubles for the Lakers.
Kalispell (16-5) plays a league doubleheader at Great Falls on Friday.
Mission Valley 341 000 000 - 8 9 1
Kalispell 050 024 02x - 13 15 4
Josh Rustad, Justin Evertz (6) and Jack Humphreys; Louis Freudenburg, Sidney Schenck (5), Cody Dopps (9) and Kendrick Lee. W - Schenck. L - Rustad.
MISSION VALLEY - Humphreys 1-5, Jacob Young 1-4, Evertz 1-5, Chris Clary 0-4, Robbie Gauthier 1-2, Kevin Hagadorn 0-3, Rustad 2-4, Austin Von Tom 1-4, Dalton Molhzon 2-4.
2B-Humphreys; RBI-Humphreys (2), Young, Evertz, Clary, Rustad.
KALISPELL - Lee 1-4, Dominic Eickert 3-4, Michael O'Connell 5-5, Joe Pistorese 1-5, Sean O'Connell 3-4, Alex Stanley 1-4, Scoob Decker 1-4, Dopps 0-1, Matt McLean 0-1, Dillon Eaves 0-1, Nate Bengston 0-4.
2B-M. O'Connell (4), Stanley, Pistorese, Lee; RBI-Eickert, M. OConnell (4), Pistorese (2), S. O'Connell (2), Bengston (2).